Australian content creators say they are already experiencing significant declines in views, engagement, and followers—just one day after the country enacted one of the world’s strictest bans on social media use among teenagers.
The new policy requires ten major platforms, including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, to block access for users under 16 or face heavy penalties. Officials estimate that around one million accounts fall under the restriction.
Creators say the impact has been immediate.
Josh Partington, a 29-year-old comedian with 100,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, said his videos typically reach about 100,000 views. His first upload after the ban has struggled to reach even 10,000.
“My TikTok and Instagram videos from yesterday underperformed pretty noticeably,” he said. “While it’s not ideal, I’m confident I can adjust.”
Other creators report similar trends. Follower counts on Instagram have dropped, and engagement patterns—likes, comments, watch-times—have shifted overnight. Partington says he lost around 1,500 Instagram followers within a day.
For creators whose income depends on brand deals pegged to engagement metrics, the change raises serious concerns.
Comedian Mitch Dale, who has 200,000 followers, said losing under-16 users—who are “incredibly active online”—could reduce early engagement and force him to rethink posting schedules.
“I’ve always aimed to post around 3.30 p.m. when kids get home from school. That might change,” he said.
Indie musician Harry Kirby, 18, said he has already lost 1,000 Instagram followers. “They just vanished,” he said. “It genuinely sucks to lose direct connection with any fans.”
The Australian government says more than 200,000 accounts have been deactivated on TikTok alone since the ban took effect. The country’s internet regulator will require platforms to report how many under-16 accounts remain active, Communications Minister Anika Wells said.
